space station the next logical step

8/6/2019 Space Station the Next Logical Step

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the digital clocks at Capeanaveral will again count down theinutes and seconds to the launch ofSpace Shuttle. No one will be takingything for granted, though. We willok across the lagoon and sandyts to the launching pad with hoped apprehension, With the loss of

Challenger and its crew of seven, _ := __e learned, to our surprise, howuch these adventures into space,the future, mean to us as a

ople. Now, when the shuttles rift off :- ....om their pads, we will study as _ :ver before the trajectory of those -- "esome rockets for reassurance _at a new, vibrant season hasturned to cape Canaveral. And withwill come the renewal of a spaceogram tempered by tragedy butbo/dened by a national resolve tosh forward into this frontier ofman endeavor:"

hn Noble Wilforde New York Timesarch 6, 1986

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Space Station:The Next Logical StepbyAndrew J. Stofan *

The United States remains committed to the developmentof a permanently manned Space Station. Recognizing thatthe Space Station is essential to ensuring Americanleadership in space during the 1990's and beyond,President Reagan has continued to reaffirm his support forthe development of the Space Station, most recently in his1986 State of the Union address. In the decades ahead,the Space Station will enable us to continue theexploration and use of space, an enterprise in which theUnited States traditionally has excelled.

A Space Station is both a powerful symbol and apowerful tool. Its value as a means to leadership is evident.The Soviet Union must certainly understand this, for theRussians recently launched the core element of what theysay is a modular space station intended to be permanentlymanned. I believe that such leadership in the years aheadmust belong to the United States and that the SpaceStation Program upon which we've embarked is the bestway to secure it. The Space Station was -- and still is --the next logical step for our nation in the exploration andutilization of space.

Unmanned Free-flyersAs a permanent facility, with a crew of six to eight, theSpace Station will provide enhanced capabilities in spacefor the United States. The Station will consist of a modularmanned base as well as several associated butunmanned free-flyers. By using both manned andunmanned systems, the Space Station will enjoy thesubstantial advantages offered by both modes of spaceflight. People will be aboard the Station base, bringingcreativity, flexibility, and the human capability to adjust tothe unforeseen. Machines will be there too, providingreliability, precision, and the steadfast ability to perform theroutine and repetitive as well as the high risk tasks.

The Space Station will be highly versatile. It will be aresearch laboratory for the conduct of science and thedevelopment of new technologies. It will be a permanentobservatory enabling us to look down at the Earth and upat the stars. It will provide facilities where new productscan be developed and later manufactured. The Space

*Andrew J. Stofan is the NASA Associate Administrator for SpaceStation.

Station will also be a servicing facility for the maintenanceand repair of satellites, a storage depot for supplies and aplace to assemble large space structures. As the SpaceStation evolves, it could become a transportation node, apoint of checkout and departure for missions togeosynchronous orbit, the planets, and beyond.

The Space Station is a civil endeavor of the UnitedStates. The President approved the program based uponcivil requirements and the Department of Defense is nota program participant. However, the Space Station willbe an extremely versatile national asset, and NASAbelieves that in the future it is quite possible thatthe Department of Defense might well utilize the SpaceStation's research capabilities.

Recent ProgressSignificant progress in the Space Station program hasbeen made in the two and one-half years since PresidentReagan directed NASA to develop the Space Station.Functional performance requirements have been definedto guide the definition and design of Space Stationcapabilities. NASA has set in motion a major technology.program in support of Space Station design and operation.A special effort has been initiated to better understand thepotential for utilization of automation and robotics (A&R)on board the Station, and a "flight telerobotic system" hasbeen identified as a key way for the Space Station toenhance A&R technologies. NASA and seven industryteams have been conducting extensive system andsubsystem analyses and we have completed a SpaceStation "baseline configuration." In response to a directiveby the NASA Administrator, a thorough review of SpaceStation design and work package assignments wasperformed.

A Critical Evaluation Task Force reviewed the SpaceStation baseline configuration in terms of the amount ofextravehicular activity required for assembly andmaintenance of the Station, launch capacity of the Shuttlefleet when again operational, assembly sequence, andoverall technical performance and integrity of the Station.Recommendations made to the NASA Administratorinclude expanding the size of the nodes which attach themodules together, thereby providing an additional 4,000cubic feet of pressurized volume, and "stuffing" thesenodes with racks of command and control equipment that


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waseitherohavebeenocatednthelaboratoryndhabitationmodules,routsideontheStation'structure.TheTaskForcealsorecommendedrevisedassemblysequencehatwouldenableearlierscientificuseoftheSpaceStation,ndwoulddefersomeconstructionasksuntilafterhelaboratoryndhabitatmoduleswerenplaceto reduceheamountoftimeconstrainedhuttle-basedEVAequiredo assembleheStation.AnExecutiveechnicalCommittee,ndermychairmanship,ssessedheimpactoftheseproposed

designmodificationsntheindividualNASAcentersandcontractorolesandrecommendedhefollowingworkpackageallocations:esponsibilityorthelaboratorymodule,habitationmodule,ogisticsmoduleandthenodestructureotheMarshallSpaceFlightCenter;externaltruss,distributedubsystems,VAsystems,irlockandnodeoutfittingotheJohnsonSpaceCenter;platforms,attachedayloadaccommodations,heflightteleroboticsystemandNASA'solenservicingotheGoddardSpaceFlightCenter;ndthepowersystemotheLewisResearchCenter.ThisalignmentfSpaceStationresponsibilitiessconsistent iththeexpertiseesidentntheNASACentersandwouldetainheprinciplefend-itemaccountabilityoessentialocostcontrol.WecontinueoworkcloselywiththespecialadvisorygroupofscientistsstablishedyNASAoprovidecounselonhowbesttorealizehescientificpotentialftheSpaceStation.Anoperationsmanagementonceptsbeingdeveloped,ndaspecialOperationsaskForcehasbeenestablishedo planheconcept'smplementa-tion.AgreementsavebeenreachedwithCanada,apanandtheEuropeanpaceAgencyESA)onthoseelementstheywillcarryintopreliminaryesign.

"POWEROWER"-- the picture shownhereis an earlierSpaceStationconfiguration termedthe "power tower." Itwas usedby NASAasareferenceconfiguration in the earlystages of thePhaseB definitionandpreliminarydesignactMt_

In sum, NASA, industry, and the international partnershave made substantial progress in defining this complexprogram and are now ready to begin detailed preliminarydesign.

The program plan calls for Space Station detaileddesign and hardware development to begin in FY 1987.From the start of the Space Station program, NASA hasfocused its efforts towards initiation of such design anddevelopment in FY 1987. Our technology program, ouranalysis of user requirements, our contractor systemdefinition studies, and our negotiations with the SpaceStation international partners have all been directed toand based upon this schedule milestone. Industry, theuser communities, and our partners abroad also haveplanned their own Space Station activities on the basisof a development effort beginning next year. This effortwould follow the Space Station definition and preliminarydesign (Phase B), a three year effort that has provided asound preliminary review of Space Station systems aswell as a thorough understanding of the overall SpaceStation architecture.

This "DualKeel" SpaceStationconfigurationwas theresultof extensiveanalysisby NASAandU.S.industr_A designthat providesbothstructuralstiffnessand flexibilityfor the usercommunities,the "DualKeel" configurationwillserveas the focus ofSpace Stationpreliminarydesignactivities.

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SOLAR MAX REPAIR -- the SolarMaximum Mission Satellite ("SolarMax") is shown here in the payloadbay of the Space Shutt le. After thesatellite malfunctioned, Shuttle crewsretrieved and repaired the spacecraft,which was then redeployed andbegan once again observing the Sun.The Solar Max repair missiondemonstrated again the value of ahuman presence in space. Mainte-nance and repair of satellites will bean important Space Station function.


The Space Stationa laboratory in spacea permanent observatorya servicing facilitya transportation node

an assembly facilitya manufacturing facilitya storage depota staging base


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Uponresumption of flightactivities, theSpaceShuttle will recaptureAmerica's preeminee in space and, when theSpace Stationbecomesoperational,willprovide safe and reliabletransportation to and fromtheStation.

Initiating Space Station development in FY 1987 isextremely important. It will signal to our internationalpartners that the U.S. commitment to Space Station is firmand that their own budgetary and intellectual resourcescan safely and productively be devoted to a cooperativeSpace Station Program. It will signal to the U.S. privatesector that future investments in commercial spaceactivities can be planned with confidence. Initiation ofSpace Station hardware development will signal to U.S.industry that the program is on track and that privateinvestment of money and talent is justified. NASA, industry,and our international partners as well as others whoanticipate using the Space Station are now poised to beginactual development. Much planning has been done.Substantial resources have been utilized towardproceeding with development in FY 1987.

The Space Station Program plan integrates a widevariety of subsystem engineering, technologydevelopment, cost analyses and budgetary projections,international planning, and managerial experience into acoherent whole. The unusually extensive work done so farhas made for an exceptionally strong program plan andgives me confidence that NASA and its partners will beready to initiate development next year. The analysis wehave conducted so far as part of Phase B has given us agood understanding of technical Space Station issues. Ithas also given us a better understanding of managerialissues. In each case, as a result of increased under-standing, we are making adjustments. Such adjustments,both technical and organizational, are typical in a programof this scope. By making them now, before we areengaged in detailed design and development and bybasing them upon our Phase B experience, we willminimize the likelihood of having to make changes later,during development, when such changes could beextremely unsettling and very costly.

The Space Station Program continues to target 1994 asthe time when an orbital capability is achieve& Ourdefinition analysis confirms that such a date is realistic. Italso confirms our belief that a useful Space Station can bedeveloped within the constrained budgetary outlook facingboth NASA and the nation. During our period of SpaceStation definition and preliminary design, we are carefullyexamining the question of Space Station cost and aredefining a program to fit within current budget projections.This program assumes that there will be initially one U.S.laboratory module and one U.S. habitat laboratory. Theformer will be primarily outfitted for materials research. Theinternational partners are also studying elements whichwould be an integral part of the Space Station. Of course,the Station will be designed from the start to be able to

evolve over time so that greater capabilities could berealized in the future.

Space ShuttleConceived with a Space Station in mind, the Space Shuttleremains the principal means of transportation to and fromthe Space Station. An efficient, dependable -- and safe --space transportation system is essential to realizing theenormous potential of the Space Station. Beginning in1993, the Shuttle will lift the Space Station elements intoorbit and be used in the assembly and check out of theStation. The Space Shuttle also will bring crews, supplies,and equipment to the Station. Equally important is theShuttle's unique capability to meet the Station'srequirement of bringing payloads back to Earth. Returnflights to Earth will carry new commercial and scientificmaterials made in space at the Space Station. Moreover,equipment and crews that have been in space for severalmonths will be returned to Earth. Only the Space Shuttlecan do this. Current US. expendable launch vehicles donot have a return capability. Neither does the EuropeanAriane vehicle. The Space Shuttle is the foundation uponwhich the very concept of a permanently manned SpaceStation is built.

The loss of Challenger makes us all acutely aware ofsafety and of the absolute requirement that we ensure thesafety of both our flight and launch crews. The SpaceStation will be a safe and reliable system. All of us atNASA and in industry are committed to developing andoperating such a system. I have no doubt that we can doso. As a permanent facility, and as one whose flightcharacteristics are relatively benign, the Space Stationposes a unique set of requirements. We will examine anumber of these areas, including, for example, the subjectof crew rescue and the nature and content of our rescuephilosophy. While we cannot entirely eliminate personalrisk from the Space Station, we can minimize it andunderstand it fully.

International ParticipationInternational participation is an important dimension ofthe Space Station Program. Canada, ESA, and Japanhave responded to President Reagan's invitation to jointhe Space Station endeavor. International cooperationwill be extremely beneficial to the Space Station Program.We will have a more capable Space Station as a result,and we will share developmental and operational costswith the partners.

In response to President Reagan's 1984 invitation forU.S. friends and allies to join the Space Station Program,Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency (ESA),the latter representing ten countries of Western Europe,have conducted considerable analysis of both userrequirements and systems definition. Like NASA, they, too,


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The Space Station

Why?Stimulate new technologiesProvide versatile, efficient system for conduct of scienceChallenge current Soviet advantage in Space StationsEnsure leadership in space during 1990's and beyonoFunction more efficiently in space, building upon previous nationalinvestments and enabling activities now not possibleDevelop fully the commercial potential of spaceProvide a vehicle for international cooperation in space

Stimulate interest in scientific and technical educationMaintain a continuity and focus to the nation's civilian space programProvide the basis for those future national endeavors in spaceoutlined by the National Commission on Space

are now poised to begin hardware development. Our threeinternational partners are now conducting definition andpreliminary design studies in parallel with our own studies.Last December, each of the partners proposed to studythe provision of specific hardware elements for the Station.NASA has responded by indicating which of the proposedelements complement our plans for the utilization of theSpace Station, particularly during initial operations.

In accordance with the provisions of our Phase BMemoranda of Understanding, we have reached firmagreements with Canada, Japan and ESA for the elementsthey will carry into preliminary design. Japan will study apressurized laboratory module with a local manipulatorand an external attached workdeck for mounting small tomedium-sized payloads requiring exposure to the spaceenvironment. This laboratory will be equipped toaccommodate general scientific and technologydevelopment research activities and to control consolesfor monitoring activities at other locations on the SpaceStation structure. Japan will also study a logistics modulefor use in resupplying experiments.

Canada's preliminary design will focus on a mobileservicing center which will include the Space StationRemote Manipulator System, a base structure whichinterfaces with translation capability to be provided byNASA, end effectors, servicing tools, control stations, and

special purpose dextrous manipulators. Sucha hardwarecomplement would be used to help assemble andmaintain the Space Station, as well as help performmaintenance on instruments and experiments mounted onthe Station structure. Canada will also perform preliminarydesign of a maintenance depot for the mobile servicingcenter which could be used for repair and maintenanceand for storing spare parts.

ESA will conduct preliminary design of a permanently-attached pressurized laboratory module and a polarorbit ing platform. In addition, NASA and ESA will jointlystudy a man-tended free-flyer (pressurized module andresource module) concentrating on user requirements anddevelopmental and operational impacts of that element onthe Space Station.

To achieve maximum Space Station capability at thelowest cost and with the minimum amount of duplication ofeffort and resources, we have proposed to ourinternational partners the concept of functional allocationrelative to the design, outfitt ing, and use of the Station.Under this concept, primary areas of the Station will beequipped to optimally perform research for a given function,thereby minimizing duplication of facilities and enhancingthe overall capabil it ies of the initial Space Station to satisfythe maximum range of user needs. In applying thisconcept, it is essential that all partners have access to all


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The Space StationI-LEMENTS--

POLAR PLATFORM

Space Station facili ties, both. the manned base and theunmanned platforms. Each partner is being encouraged toprovide generic research equipment for use by all. Thepoint we are emphasizing with this concept is a simpleone: the Space Station, its platforms, manned base, andlogistics complex compose a single system. There is tobe one Space Station. We are not going to build a facilityconsisting of separate national enclaves.

In the months following the baselining of theconfiguration, which includes the international elements,negotiations will begin, in conjunction with the Departmentof State, on Memoranda of Understanding between NASAand its Space Station partners for the design,development, and operational phases. ur objective is tohave these Memoranda of Understanding concluded priorto the initiation of our own development contracts inI1987 so that international hardware development can beinitiated on schedules compatible with those of the UnitedStates. Appropriate government-to-governmentagreements will also be negotiated with the U.S.Department of State, having the lead role in developingthese necessary agreements. NASA will, of course,participate heavily in the negotiations.

These agreements will address more than thosedecisions on which elements of the Space Station eachpartner will provide. These new agreements will establish

long-term partnerships to jointly design, develop, operate,and use the Station over several decades of operationwhile looking forward to even greater cooperative spaceventures in the future. Successful negotiation of theseagreements will constitute a major milestone for the SpaceStation Program.

Science, Commerce, and TechnologyAnother important dimension of the Space StationProgram has been the emphasis given to understandingand incorporating requirements of the user communities.NASA, within the boundaries of technology and resources,is committed to developing a Space Station that servesscience, commerce, and technology. From the beginningour focus has been to make effective Station utilization ahigh priority of our program. In this regard, we have beengreatly assisted by the work of the Task Force on theScientific Utilization of the Space Station, chaired by Dr.Peter Banks of Stanford University. Dr. Banks and hiscolleagues have provided sound advice and numerousrecommendations on how the Space Station and its free-flying platforms can best serve the many demands ofspace science. It is their view that one of the mostimportant considerations is to deliver a useful facility onthe currently envisioned schedule, even if that facility issomewhat less capable than originally conceived.Associated with this consideration, it is equally important,


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Space Station Program PlanEstablishes a strong role for NASA in program managementProvides genuine competition among U.S. industrySupportive of meaningful international participationGives strong voice to Space Station user communitiesProvides an early focus to operationsAllows for evolution and increased capabilities

............. _ ..... ,, , , .... m ,,, ,, , , , ,,,, .... , _Establishes a substantial effort in te-chnology developmentProvides forcredible cost, scheduie, and technical projections through extensivedefinition phaseWill enable NASA to meet President Reagan's "within a decade" directive

from the Task Force's perspective, that the agencyenunciate and implement a plan for evolution of Stationcapability beyond that which will be available initially

A major NASA goal is to expand private sectorinvestment and involvement in civil space activities Wecontinue to work closely with NASA's Office ofCommercial Programs to realize this goal within the SpaceStation Program and to seek out those commercialenterprises that might profit from using the Space Stationboth the base and the unmanned platforms During thepast 18 months, we supported activities which introducedover one hundred companies to the commercial potentialof the Space Station As a result some two dozen of thesecompanies are currently developing commercial spaceexperiment concepts or are pursuing joint agreementswith NASA for commercial ventures Several majorFortune 500 corporations are funding research to assurereadiness to capitalize on Space Station facilities

Private Sector ParticipationIn addition to promoting commercial use of the SpaceStation we have initiated activities to encourage privatesector participation as builders or operators of SpaceStation systems and services Entrepreneurs with privatefunds are encouraged to consider such participation"NASA Guidelines for United States CommercialEnterprises for Space Station Development andOperation" were released to industry in September 1986These guidelines have sparked considerable interest inthe private sector We expect to include language in thePhase C/D RFP that could stimulate private sector

investment in the Space Station Our Memorandum ofUnderstanding with Space Industries Inc signed onAugust 20 1985, on the Industrial Space Facility (ISF) anddocking system is another example of cooperation in thepossible commercial development of space hardwareNASA and Space Industries, Inc are exchanginginformation relating to Space Station and ISF designactivities during the definition phase of the program

ConclusionThe Space Station continues to be the next logical step inthis nation's efforts to explore and use the environment ofspace It represents a commitment by the United States toleadership in civil space activities By providing a newcapability for the conduct of science in space, thedevelopment of new technologies, and the promotion ofbusiness, the Space Station will retain Americanpreeminence in space into the next century As wereexamine the Space Shuttle program, we must at thesame time look beyond the Challenger accident Spacehas been and with the Shuttle, the Space Telescope andthe Space Station it will continue to be, an arena ofunparalleled American success In space we have gainednew knowledge and new technologies The spaceprogram has provided a new dimension to the humanadventure and it has instilled in Americans a deep senseof pride In the 1990's the Space Station will continue andenhance this legacy As a facility and laboratory in space,its value is extremely practical yet powerfully symbolicAs a program it is about to move into a critical stage Nowmore than ever the Space Station is important to ourfuture and we must move forward as planned

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Platforms are an integral part of theSpace Station Program, Suchunmanned free-flyers are expectedbe co-orbit ing with the Station'smanned base and to fly in polar orbas well. User requirements for theSpace Station platforms are beingstudied extens ively These will beincorporated in the "Phase B"systems des ign work currentlyunderway Shown here is a picturewhat a Space Station platform mighlook like ,

o

Cover photo courtesy of McDonnellDouglas Astronautics Company



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space station the next logical step

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